Constituencies Created for Former Senators

The Constitutional amendments of 1964 and 1966 progressively led to the weakening and eventual abolition of the seven regional assemblies and the 41-Member Senate. The House of Representatives was renamed the National Assembly with an expanded 158 Parliamentary Constituencies consisting of the old 117 (a good number of which were given new names) and an additional 41 newly- created Constituencies for the Senators.

"This act (the Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) (No 4) Act of 1996) abolished the Kenya Senate with effect from 3rd January 1967. It created 41constituencies, one in every administrative district, which were allocated to the 41 Senators. This increased the number of parliamentary seats from 117 to 158. ....... " (Kihoro, 2007).

Constituencies Created for the Senators

*(includes an extra 6 constituencies - no reliable source yet to confirm where the 6 were hived off from)

Table 2.1 Central Region

Constituency

District

Gatundu*

Kiambu

Lari

Kiambu

Juja

Kiambu

Kirinyaga South

Kirinyaga

Kirinyaga West

Kirinyaga

Kirinyaga East

Kirinyaga

Makuyu

Murang'a

Nyandarua North

Nyandarua

Othaya

Nyeri

Total: 9

Total: 1

Table 2.2 Coast Region

Constituency

District

Malindi South

Kilifi

Kwale North

Kwale

Lamu West

Lamu

Lamu East

Lamu

Mombasa Central

Mombasa

Voi

Taita

Tana North

Tana River

Total: 7

Total: 6

Table 2.3 Eastern Region

Constituency

District

Embu East

Embu

Isiolo South

Isiolo

Kitui West

Kitui

Iveti North

Machakos

Iveti South

Machakos

Marsabit North

Marsabit

Total: 6

Total: 5

Table 2.4 Nairobi Region

Constituency

District

Dagoretti

Nairobi

Total: 1

Total: 1

Table 2.5 North-Eastern Region

Constituency

District

Garissa Central

Garissa

Mandera West

Mandera

Wajir West

Wajir

Total: 3

Total: 3

Table 2.6 Nyanza Region

Constituency

District

Nyakach

Central Nyanza

Borabu-North Mugirango

Kisii

West Mugirango

Kisii

Ndhiwa

South Nyanza

Total: 4

Total: 3

Table 2.7 Rift Valley Region

Constituency

District

Baringo Central

Baringo

Kerio South

Elgeyo Marakwet

Kerio North

Elgeyo Marakwet

Kajiado South

Kajiado

Chepalungu

Kericho

Laikipia West*

Laikipia

Nakuru North

Nakuru

Tinderet

Nandi

Narok North

Narok

Samburu West

Samburu

Samburu East

Samburu

Kitale West

Trans Nzoia

Eldoret North

Uasin Gishu

Pokot East*

West Pokot

Total: 14

Total: 12

Table 2.8 Western Region

Constituency

District

Busia North

Busia

Lurambi North*

Kakamega

Lurambi South

Kakamega

Total: 3

Total: 2

Although the Senate ceased to exist from early 1967, political representation by way of the functions and office of the Senators was expected to continue within the newly expanded National Assembly in order that the interests of the minorities (which the former Senators represented,) would not suffer. The question to ask then is, were the former Senators more active (singly and collectively) participants and champions of regional interests in the new Assembly? If they were and sought to use their new (and certainly elevated) status, then it is safe to say that the National Assembly of 1967-1969 was indeed, among its ranks, composed of an effective representation of minorities. Representation remained largely geographical however.

. It may be of interest to note that by election time in December of 1969 only KANU candidates could take part in the elections as the government had earlier in August banned the opposition Kenya People's Union, KPU. The President then nominated 12 members to the National Assembly after the elections as the law allowed him. Although generally representing the face of Kenya's former 7 regions, it is unclear what express mandate or constituent group the 12 represented. However among them was the first woman Nominated MP Mrs J Gecaga. Hence we can say that political representation in Kenya continued to exist for single member geographical areas with little or no representation for special, minority or other constituent groups.